Do’s and Don’ts of Negotiating a Job Offer   

Getting a new job offer can be exciting. After all, you probably worked pretty hard to get where you’re at right now. The employer is interested in having you join the team and wants to discuss details with you. Now is the time to start thinking about negotiating. It would help if you successfully negotiated a job offer to ensure you get the job on terms that you and your employer are comfortable with.

Unfortunately, several job seekers have no idea about negotiating a job offer. This lack of negotiation skills makes them accept the offer even if the salary does not meet their expenses.

At Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, we’re here to help you with some do’s and don’ts when negotiating a job offer.

Do’s

Clarify Your Role

When you get a job offer, ask for clarification on the job description’s details. Clarity regarding what the job entails and what the employer expects of you will help you get a good salary range. You can also have a good idea of how the position aligns with your skill set and hit the ground running as soon as possible should you accept the job.

Do Your Research

Do your homework and get relevant information about the company. Such information will give you critical insights into the company’s work environment, policies and management. In addition, you can reach out to their current employees or colleagues in similar roles in other organizations to get a reasonable salary expectation. Even look for the email address or LinkedIn profile for the company and attempt to determine who you will be interviewing.

Give a Salary Range

At Goodwill, we strongly recommend that, when negotiating a job offer, you shouldn’t name one specific number as the salary you want. Instead, you should give the company a salary range you expect to receive. The actual amount you wish to be paid should be within that range. After concluding negotiations, you will discover that the agreed-upon salary would be close to your original figure or might exceed it.

Present Your Value

One of the most important things you can do during a job offer negotiation is to showcase the value you will bring to the company. Your value, including your experience and skill set, will enable you to draft a worthy counteroffer to the company. Typically, the company’s negotiators would try to sell you short and beat your salary as much as possible to save the company money. However, when you can prove what you bring to the table, you can convince them that you are worth your asking price.

Look at The Big Picture

For most job seekers, the deciding factor in accepting or rejecting a job is the salary the job offers. However, several other factors, including your transport expenses and the job’s benefits, should be considered before accepting a position. Besides the salary, do they offer free training or paid vacations? You should get a job to either learn or earn. If you have both, that’s great, but avoid having neither.

Don’ts

Rush the Negotiation

It is not a surprise that you want to close the job negotiation as soon as possible. We know job negotiations can be nerve-wracking, and you most likely need this job opportunity to come through. All these might make you want to speed up the talks.

However, you shouldn’t rush the negotiation process. If you are hasty when negotiating a job offer, you might accept unfavorable terms. Your hastiness in the negotiations can make you seem desperate to the company seeking to hire you and might convince them to rescind their offer.

Settle For Less

As we stated, the negotiators from the organization offering you the job would considerably beat your asking price. It is up to you to stand your ground and make a counter offer that reflects your value because if you don’t, you might end up working in a job that leaves you disappointed.

Hone in on various points in the negotiation process to remind them of the value you would be bringing into the organization. Expand on your experience, the results you have achieved with your skills and possible ways to grow the business through the job role.

Approach the Process Aggressively

While you must stand your ground during job offer negotiations, you must be tactful — your tone while negotiating matters immensely. Conveying your position reasonably from a place of confidence without sounding pushy or hostile will yield a better result than approaching the negotiation arrogantly. Being too aggressive while negotiating will do you more harm than good. You can lose the job offer and eliminate the company’s chances of considering you for future positions.

Lie About Your Skills

In the heat of negotiations, you can feel incredible pressure that motivates you to say several points that can serve to increase your value and push your agenda. Some of these points end up becoming lies or exaggerations. Although promoting yourself while negotiating a job offer can be beneficial, you should resist the urge to exaggerate and stick to the facts.

Don’t promise more than you can offer.

Give Unnecessary Information

At Goodwill, we have noticed that applicants tend to talk excessively during job interviews and negotiations. The most apparent reason is desperation or anxiety, but these applicants end up giving a great deal of information that is irrelevant to the discussion.

When you are negotiating a job offer, be calm. Don’t veer off the discussion. Speak only about what your interviewer can find interesting about the role and ensure you put yourself in the best light for the position. The negotiator doesn’t need to know your pet’s name you had when you were seven or that you played the clarinet in fifth grade. Stay on track, and you will do just fine.

Do You Need Help Getting or Negotiating a Job Offer? Let Us Help You

At Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, we know navigating a career path alone can be challenging and confusing. We are dedicated to supporting you effectively along your career journey, so you don’t have to address it alone. WIthout educational resources, you can be more confident in securing meaningful employment.

We provide no-cost career training classes and workshops to help you acquire the skills and certifications to guarantee a successful career. Contact us today and discover how we can help you make progress in your career.